Bee Breeding and Genetics Archives › The Walrus and the Honey Bee

Practical Tips About Queens

New virgin queen Finding, Marking and Introducing Queens As any regular reader of my blog will know, I'm obsessed with two things; queens and Varroa mites. Queens are essential to honey bees, as mothers are to all families. Mites are horrible things…

17 Dec 21 Walrus

Origins Of Honey Bees

Photo by Braňo on Unsplash Genetic science has come on in leaps and bounds in the last few decades. It turns out that appearances can be deceptive as far as genes go. Even with their large population and worldwide distribution,…

Apis mellifera mellifera rear view showing abdomen

13 Apr 21 Walrus

Apis Musings by Walrus

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apis_mellifera_mellifera,_06.jpg I've been thinking about bees and beekeeping. Most people who know me have figured out that bees occupy 95% of my brain, although other things sometimes make an appearance. Arsenal FC once took up much more brain than it…

27 Oct 20 Walrus

Mating Mathematics

Math or Maths? In 2005 some researchers studying matings in the Hope Valley (England) found out some interesting stats on mating distance. Mating distance is the distance between the hive from which the virgin queen flew and the colonies from…

Mike Palmer's Cell Builder Apiary in Vermont

4 Aug 20 Walrus

Better Bees

Mike Palmer's Cell Builders Humans (and walruses) are part of the natural world. We are animals. Sometimes we like to set ourselves aside from nature as if we are not part of it, but this is wrong. However, there is…

11 Feb 19 Walrus

Bee Breeding: Life, uh…finds a way

Life finds a way It's a dog's life I have always struggled with the idea that there are sub-species of honey bees but not dogs. A chihuahua is a tiny dog, and a great Dane is enormous. There are many differences between these…

12 Jun 18 Walrus

A Legendary Bee has Died

In the Winter of 2017, I met Murray McGregor, owner of Denrosa Apiaries, based in Coupar Angus, Scotland and was delighted to be able to spend over a day with him. He carefully chooses his words and takes his time…